HB 33: Cook County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This bill applies only to Cook County, Georgia. It allows the clerk of the county's Magistrate Court to charge a technology fee, up to $5, on every civil action filed with the court. The chief magistrate sets the exact amount within that cap. Money collected can only go toward specific technology needs: buying computer hardware and software, maintaining and installing computer equipment, and buying or maintaining imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment. The funds must be kept in a separate account managed by the court clerk and can be audited by an auditor approved by Cook County's governing authority. The bill sets an end date for the fee of July 1, 2030. Any money left over after that stays dedicated to general county technology uses, though the chief magistrate can declare a surplus once a year and hand it over to the county government.

• Authorizes the Magistrate Court of Cook County to charge a technology fee of up to $5.00 on each civil action filed.
• Restricts use of the fee money to computer hardware and software, equipment maintenance and installation, and related office technology like scanners and printers.
• Requires the fee money to be kept in a separate, audited account controlled by the court clerk.
• Sets the fee's authority to expire on July 1, 2030, with leftover money staying earmarked for county technology unless declared a surplus.
• Allows the chief magistrate to declare a surplus once a year and transfer those funds to Cook County's governing authority.

People who file civil lawsuits in the Magistrate Court of Cook County, Georgia, who would pay the new fee; the court clerk, who collects and manages the funds; the chief magistrate, who sets the fee amount and can declare surpluses; and Cook County's governing authority, which can receive surplus funds and approve the auditor.

Filing a civil case in Cook County's Magistrate Court would cost a bit more, up to $5 extra, but that money would go directly toward upgrading the court's computers and equipment rather than the county's general budget, and the arrangement is set to end automatically in 2030.

• Section 1(a) sets the technology fee cap at $5.00 per civil filing and limits its use to computer hardware and software purchases, maintenance, installation, and imaging or communications equipment.
• Section 1(b) requires the fee revenue to be kept in a segregated account subject to audit by an auditor approved by the Cook County governing authority.
• Section 1(c) terminates the fee authority on July 1, 2030, dedicates leftover funds to general county technology uses, and lets the chief magistrate declare and transfer an annual surplus to the county.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-04-30Effective Date
2. 2025-04-30Act 30
3. 2025-04-30House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-02-12Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-02-12Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-02-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-02-05House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Chas Cannon (R, HD-172)Primary sponsor
• Jaclyn Ford (R, HD-170)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 5, 2025

   160 yea, 1 nay (14 not voting, 5 excused)

   Local Calendar: House Vote #15

2. PassedSenate voteFebruary 12, 2025

   52 yea, 1 nay (1 not voting, 2 excused)

   LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Vote #45

• court fees
• Cook County government
• local legislation
• magistrate court